“Nothing Is Working”
December 1st, 2011
Wednesday afternoon, Joe heard Bucs beat writer eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune decided to drop a phone call to his good friend “The Fabulous Sports Babe” of WHBO-AM 1040 to talk all things Bucs. In short, the way the Bucs are playing, Kaufman suggested every person in the football operations of the Bucs should come under some degree of scrutiny due to how the season has unfolded.
eye-RAH! Kaufman: Nothing is working Babe, nothing is working for this team and you know what? After a season like this, I think everybody and I mean everybody from the top on down has to be looked at, has to be examined. I don’t care if its the GM, the coach, Greg Olson the coordinator down to the secondary coach. I don’t think anyone is safe if they don’t get out of this funk.
Fabulous Sports Babe: They are boring, which to me is the biggest crime a team can be, whether it is a Little League team or the Green Bay Packers. Being boring is the worst sin you can commit.
Kaufman: You know what Babe, it’s a great point. I hate to give you a compliment but I have to, you just forced me to. You can be 4-7 and be the Panthers, but they are exciting, they score a lot of points. They run up a lot of yards, I believe they are the No. 5 team in total offense in this league. They give fans a reason to come to Charlote Stadium. This game, there’s no great secret will be blacked out with 15,000-20,000 empty seats. There are a lot of reasons for it but the point you just made is one of them: they don’t have any flair, any pizazz, no speed. … It’s an offensive league and the Bucs are behind the times.
Sports Babe: When you want to see emptiness this Sunday, I hope you can project that to next year.
Kaufman: I think the key for Raheem down the stretch Babe — and I don’t think the Glazers want to make a change, they are not impulsive owners by nature. Dungy got six years and Gruden got seven. But I tell you what: If they finish 4-12 with a 10-game losing streak, I mean all bets are off the table. I think the key is how about some improvement from some of these young players? Right now that’s a huge question mark.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:25 am
Only thing I disagree with there is all bets are of if they finish 4-12. The way this season has unfolded all bets should be off if they go 6-10. This so far has been the ugliest brand of football I have seen from the Bucs since the Richard Williamson years. And if I remember correctly, he only got 2 years and was fired.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:37 am
If the Bucs finish 4-12 with a 10 game losing streak (which is a good possibility) and Raheem ISN’T fired, I’m done with this team.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:38 am
The BIG question is… if this team loses 10 straight and finishes 4-12, will there be any Raheem supporters left?
And if so, what crazy home will they be sent to?
December 1st, 2011 at 11:39 am
Bucs fans were metaphorically hoping for an iPhone 5 type of a season this year but instead were given a Motorola Startac from 1996. What a ripoff. You can bet that Bucs fans will be in financial rebellion against this sorry product next year if major changes aren’t made.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:40 am
There’s no excuse. We see teams turn things around Immediately every season. We’re in YEAR 3 of this and we still stink. This rebuild has been a failure compared to say…..the Lions one. Three years ago they were 0-16, and three years later their among the NFC’s top teams. Three years ago we were 9-7 (not bad at all) and look where we are three years later.
The Lions have an elite WR in Calvin Johnson, an elite DT in Suh (great player regardless of hid behavior), an offense that piles up points and a nice defense that GETS sacks. Instead we two DTs that can’t stay on the field, no great downfield threats, an offense that can’t score points at least for 3 quarters, and a defense that has gotten worse.
The young excuse can only go so far. There are other young teams doing better than us right now.
December 1st, 2011 at 12:02 pm
You can’t compare the Lions rebuild to ours. Last year reporters were writing about how exciting this team was. And how we should all go see them. This is the issue I’ve always had with the writers here. Gruden never got this scrutiny year to year. These guys were given the green light to gut the team of the old. I’m sorry buy Gruden and Allen set this team back at least 4 years with Gaines Adams and Dexter Jackson and so on.This is ridiculous. We’ve hardly ever had back to back good years. Not Dungy or Gruden.
December 1st, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Great post, Patrick.
December 1st, 2011 at 12:24 pm
This so far has been the ugliest brand of football I have seen from the Bucs since the Richard Williamson years.
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Didn’t we go 4-12 not too long ago?
December 1st, 2011 at 12:58 pm
“Didn’t we go 4-12 not too long ago?”
Yep. We sure did. We went 4-12 in 2006. But our defense was 17th overall back then. Not 31st.
We also went 5-11 in 2004. But our defense was ranked 5th overall. Not 31st.
There’s no reason to be 31st in defense — especially when your head coach is supposedly a DEFENSIVE guy.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:08 pm
THIS:
“Yep. We sure did. We went 4-12 in 2006. But our defense was 17th overall back then. Not 31st.
We also went 5-11 in 2004. But our defense was ranked 5th overall. Not 31st.
There’s no reason to be 31st in defense — especially when your head coach is supposedly a DEFENSIVE guy.”
This is why I don’t buy Shaun King’s argument that Dominik’s head should roll and not Raheem’s. Raheem has a first round pick and a potential Hall of Famer on the defense, not counting Clayborn who is the best defensive end the Bucs have had since Simeon Rice, and STILL for a defensive coach to have the 31st-ranked defense is inexcusable.
That tells me Raheem can’t coach these guys up.
If you need help, hire a defensive coordinator otherwise if your defense sucks you better be willing to man up and pay the price and work for Geico.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Fair enough. BTW our offense those years. 23 and 18. Not bad for an “offensive guru” according to you guys. We had one of the best all time defenses those years. Those don’t come every day. Maybe you guys should check your expectations.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Not too mention those offenses were littered with hand pick free agents. That is more unacceptable than trying to build a D with young guys.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:17 pm
This Tampa Team is Turruble!
December 1st, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Boring = Dink and Dunk
We have talent. We were told when Raheem took over that we were going to have a vertical offense. We have had anything but and I don’t want to hear game plan this or game plan that. BE AGGRESSIVE!
I think Olsen and Baker should be replaced, because the offense is a version of Chucky’s boring offense and the LB play (except Watson and Foster) has been horrible.
Raheem gets one more year, or the start of.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:25 pm
I really believe the Bucs need to go out with the old and in with the new.
– WE have a holdover GM from the old days. – Dungy
– WE have a holdover coach from the old days – Dungy
– We have a holdover off. coord. from the old days. Gruden
– Our offensive playbook is Grudens – Gruden
Too many others to list.
Everyone bucs related keeps saying we need to get back to how we used to do things, i disagree. i think we need to put all of that behind us, and move on to a new era of Buccaneers. The sooner we let go of old dogmas, we can catapult into a new style of their own. We need a new coach with a new identity, because we are trying to recreate the old one. Its time.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Haven’t won a playoff game in 10 years. Enuff’ said.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:42 pm
@ Snook. With the scenario you gave, my Raheem support would go away. I’ve said before, the only justification I could see behind firing Raheem Morris after this season is if we lose out and finish 4-12. That would give him a 3-13 season and a 4-12 season in his three years of coaching; That’s obviously unacceptable.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:43 pm
i still think our offences ineptitude is a factor in how bad our defense plays. when you have to defend 20 more plays (probably an exaggeration) a game than you should, you WILL give up more yards. and the run game will get more effective on you.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:45 pm
And actually, a 5 or 6 win season this year would be pretty bad too. But losing out would be totally ridiculous and should lose Morris his job. But we’re talking “if’s and possiblys”
December 1st, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Fabulous Sports Babe: “They are boring, which to me is the biggest crime a team can be, whether it is a Little League team or the Green Bay Packers. Being boring is the worst sin you can commit.”
Pot calling the Kettle black…
December 1st, 2011 at 2:35 pm
honestly, the only wins that could possibly mean anything to me would be dallas or atlanta. a win vs. carolina or jacksonville mean nothing.
December 1st, 2011 at 2:57 pm
@Patrick,
Although I do agree with most of what you said, I would point out that the Lions are actually one of the OLDEST teams in the league. I would agree, however, that this plan of building only through the draft is simply not working well enough (or fast enough). This is the main reason I give the coaches a semi-pass. I just don’t think we have enough talent to win against the big boys (doesn’t mean I don’t think we have talent, just not enough).
December 1st, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I think the “boring” statement really hits it on the head. I love this team and never miss a game, but taking off my homer hat, we are very boring to watch. Aside from a Blount hurdle, we are not explosive at all. We don’t have one player that you hold their breath when they have the ball (except hoping someone doesn’t commit a stupid penalty). Our offense is boring, probably as a result of this. Sometimes I find myself hoping Freeman will just throw a 60 yard incompletion, just for the possibility of some excitement. Sorry, but 3 yard dump offs to Lumpkin on 3rd and 16 just don’t get me all hot and bothered. We are lucky to score 20 points in a game, and haven’t scored 30 once. That’s a problem in today’s NFL, because it is set up for offenses to score points.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:04 pm
@gotbucs,
In the grand scheme of things, I totally agree. However, as someone who has been in a bad mood for 6 weeks now, I don’t care if we beat the University of Florida, I just want a win.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:45 pm
You Rah supporters should be fishermen with your patience.
3 years out – everyone agrees that the team is undisciplined, unprepared and boring. The only person responsible for all 3 is the hapless head coach. Do you think he will wake up and get it all of the sudden in the 4th or 5th year?
Just because he knows Mike Tomlin doesnt mean he is Mike Tomlin. A Tomlin team has never looked like this. If they lose 2 more games and go 7-9 this cheap experiment needs to be ended.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Just curious Thomas: If Raheem doesn’t get fired, are you going to continue to say the same things over and over for another year? Even if you are right, don’t you get tired of repeating yourself? I’m pretty sure everyone who has ever visited this board knows exactly how you feel, don’t you think? Maybe you should just kind of lay off repeating yourself. Just a thought. I know you won’t though.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Its gotten to the point for the away games on TV, I record them. There was a point when I could not wait till 1:00 for kickoff. Now Its recorded and if the game was another weak performance. I don’t have to waste my Sunday afternoon. And if it was a good effort I will watch it later. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Bucs football for the most part this season is unwatchable.
December 1st, 2011 at 4:06 pm
If we lose to the kittens that would be completly unacceptable and somebody should get fired imediately following that game. I dont think Morris would get fired if we went 4-12 but whatever happens we better make some real changes in the offseason.
December 1st, 2011 at 4:24 pm
I will say if Blount doesn’t get the ball 30 times this game Olsen should walk towards the tunnel, pass the locker room and just keep walking. And when he thinks he’s walked far enough, keep going. This is the worst run D in the league. Not ours. Kevin Smith, off the la-z-boy racked up 3 td’s. Just sayin…
December 1st, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Hey CC:
That’s a great idea. I’m going to do that this Sunday. Then I can watch other games instead. Besides, I already know how Sunday’s game is going to go… No TD in 1st quarter. Probably not one in the 2nd quarter. Blount will run well but will be taken out on 3rd downs in exchange for some no-name from UGA. Carolina will have no problem running the football. Our linebackers will be out of place. We score a TD in the 3rd quarter. Game will be sort of close all game but in the end, the Bucs fall short and lose. Raheem makes excuses and uses cliches in post game press conference.
Thank you for saving me 3 hours of my life.
I’m very grateful.
December 1st, 2011 at 4:27 pm
“I will say if Blount doesn’t get the ball 30 times this game”
Bwaaaaahahahahahahahaha!
30 times? He’ll be lucky to get it 20 times. Gruden, I mean, Olson’s offense doesn’t like to run the football. He’d rather throw 4 yard passes on 3rd and 8.
Cmon, dude. Out of 11 games, Blount’s only gotten 20+ carries THREE times.
December 1st, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Blount – 4.7 yards per attempt. But he only averages 15 carries per game.
Classic.
If that’s not poor play-calling, I don’t know what is.
December 1st, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Is rah rah olson’s boss? Why hasnt he said make sure to run blount 30 times?
Not that i agree you can do that under all circumstances but – how do you know rah isnt telling ollie to throw when he would prefer to run?
You dont. I even here that dom (never played high schoo) is on the headset in game.
December 1st, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Thomas 2.2, what college did Gruden play for? or Sean Payton? Who cares if he never played high school. You guys throw out serious jibberish
December 1st, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Gruden played qb at dayton, payton at a college in tenn i believe.
I am not saying that you need to have played to analyze, report etc but if Dom is involved in playcalling having never played or coached at all at any level – I think that is unusual and places him and the team at a disadvantage.
December 1st, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I dont know if Dom is involved in playcalling I just remember Rah admitting that Dom wears a headset and communicates with him in game on personnel, maybe plays also – who knows?
December 1st, 2011 at 6:05 pm
You guys are on the ball today. HAHAHAHA, I hope Raheem don’t read this stuff or he would fire himself from reading so much truth. It’s good to see the Realists and Homers unite for one cause! Refute the Dominik/Raheem experiment. The Glazers and the Bucs board of directors should take turmoil remediation training from the Penn State trustees and let them fire our entire staff.
Take some of the victims of Raheem coaching like M. Lewis, Biggers, McCoy, Black, Hayes, Talib, Mack, Trueblood, M. Williams, and others with him because they are damaged goods or busts.
December 1st, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Hopefully the Glazers see this glass as half empty and not half full as most of all of the fans now do. If they put their blinders on and extend Raheem to stay on the cheap then attendance will dwindle further and the fans will hear how we don’t support the cheap owners we now have. Also the national media will be saying that Tampa isn’t a good town for football blah blah blah. For once hopefully the Glazers get it right and get rid of our on the job coach and light a fire underneath our on the job GM and we can get a coach who can teach our players and hold them accountable. Then maybe next year we get some better talent around Freeman so he can finally succeed and we can find out if he is the answer or part of the problem I like Free so I think he will be fine once he gets a few decent receivers and a good head coach.
December 1st, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Bryan: hey can we get another year at lowest payroll with rah as coach and pocket the tv money?
Joel: yeah and the beauty is no salary floor till 2013!
lets hope rah wins one more! i think the idiots will buy it!
December 1st, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Bryan: Yeah and if we can keep selling this youngest team b.s. when the difference between the oldest and youngest teams is 2 years.
(they all chuckle)
It isnt like the bucs average 26 and the oldest average 33. It is a 2 year difference
December 1st, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Hey Ira, I’ll be there….. with my boys, my brother and his boy too, all of age, all drinking and partying down, while you sit at at home and complain.
Life is Good, and if you don’t know it, you’re a fool. Count your blessings and feel lucky you’re not related to Greg Olson.
Go Bucs !!! yeah Baby!!!
December 1st, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Patrick…The Lions? Really? They have been rebuilding since Berry Sanders left! Let’s not try and mold the Bucs efforts after the Lions!
December 1st, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Also, if memory servs me, Dungy only had one year that he missed the playoffs with the Bucs, his first. Rip on Chucky all you want, but Gruden brought Tampa to San Diego for their first and only Super Bowl. Our two best coaches are above the petty BS in my mind. Gruden and DUngy should both make the ring of honor one day.
December 1st, 2011 at 8:35 pm
@SlikNikdaRULA: I think you *can* compare the Lions rebuild to ours. You say that Gruden and Allen set this franchise back four years. Matt Millen did a far worse job with the Lions than Gruden and Allen.
December 1st, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Hey forget about the Lions look to the NFC South and two teams: The Saints and Falcons.
For YEARS the Saints were worse than the 2009 Bucs. Remember the scores of fans in the stands with bags on their heads for the ‘aints? What turned THEIR franchise around? Two things: Sean Payton and Drew Brees
For the Falcons they lost their QB (Vick) and their HC quit halfway thru the season – they hit rock bottom. What turned that franchise around? Mike Smith and Matty Ice.
Fast Forward to 2009 – the Bucs fire Gruden and draft Josh Freeman and that turned our franchise around? Hmmmmm
December 1st, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Oh I almost forgot the Glazers hired Raheem Morris as their DC and promoted him 2 weeks later to HC – WOW how Lucky the Tampa Bay fans are!
December 1st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
The Panthers are exciting to watch. They Score Points!
Ok, maybe they lose, but they are fun to watch, unless you are a Tampa Fan this Sunday.
Our Season is over, the only “race” we are in is the race to avoid the NFC South Cellar, and the race to the number 1 pick in the NFL Draft.
IMHO, our ONLY Hope to beat the Panthers Sunday is to run Blount 30 times if needed, anything to keep the ball away from Carolina’s high powered offense.
If Raheem wants any hope of saving his job, we must beat Carolina at home on Sunday. For if they beat us at home, they will certainly beat us in Carolina.
Someone said earlier that Mark Dominick is a holdover from the Dungy era, where defense won games. Not anymore. The NFL has become a shoot out league, and Tampa just is not equipped to do that.
Because we have no real speed, teams are stacking up on us, making it hard to run, and pass.
WE are a team in trouble, serious trouble.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:52 am
Mr Lucky…Much better comparison.